Springfield 1866 2nd Model Allin Conversion .50-70 Trapdoor Rifle, Antique

SOLD FOR: $1,026.01

LSB#: WY241106JS004

Make: Springfield Armory

Model: 1866, 2nd Model Allin Conversion “Trapdoor” Rifle

Serial Number: None

Year of Manufacture: 1866-1868, 1865 Lockplate

Caliber: .50-70 Government

Action Type: Single Shot Trapdoor

Barrel Length: 36 1/2″

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a short post atop a small raised base. The rear sight is a “U” notch with a flip up sight that has two aperture sights with “U” notches.

Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The stock is one-piece wood featuring a metal forend cap, a slot in the forend for the included clearing rod, a total of three barrel bands secured by spring clips, a lock-plate secured by two screws, a straight wrist, a straight comb and metal butt-plate. There is a sling swivel fixed to the bottom of the middle barrel band and a sling swivel fixed to the front of the trigger guard. There are no cartouches on the stock. The stock has only a few scattered light marks. The LOP is 13 1/2” from the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. The buttplate has some scattered minor erosion, mostly scrubbed out. Overall, the stock is in Excellent condition as refinished or replaced Antique.  

Type of Finish: Bright & Case Color

Finish Originality: The bright parts have likely seen some polishing. We suspect that the case color parts have been refinished.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some light erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its current metal finish. The case color is generally strong on the lockplate and hammer. The breech-block has more muted finish with the interior portion mostly in the white. There is aq little scattered minor surface erosion and light oxidation. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screws range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this rifle is in Fine-plus condition as refinished Antique.  

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The Springfield Model 1866, remembered as the Second Allin Conversion, was the brainchild of Springfield Armory Master Armory Erskine S. Allin. It was the second conversion of a breechloader to be attempted by Allin. The first was the Model 1865 which was chambered for the ineffective .58 rimfire round, but the second time he rechambered old muzzleloaders for the far superior .50-70 Govt centerfire cartridge. The gun was constructed by milling out the chamber of a muzzleloader and fastening a hinged “trapdoor” breechblock to the rifle. Aside from the breechblock, the gun’s parts were all taken from surplus Civil War stockpiles which is why the lock-plate’s date does not correspond with when the gun was converted. Over 52,000 of these guns were fabricated under Allin’s supervision between 1867-1869, half were sold to France which was desperate for war material during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 with the rest issued to U.S. military units fighting to tame the “Wild West”.  

This particular specimen is nicely preserved and, despite some wear typical of a gun made in the 1860s, the gun remains aesthetically pleasing and mechanically sound. This is a great option for fans of Erskine Allin’s ingenuitive design and historical firearms more broadly. The design saw service in the U.S. military during the post-Civil War Westward Expansion and in the French Army during the Franco Prussian War. Good luck on your bid!  

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud  

Springfield 1866 2nd Model Allin Conversion .50-70 Trapdoor Rifle, Antique
Springfield 1866 2nd Model Allin Conversion .50-70 Trapdoor Rifle, Antique